Head and Neck Support Device

ABSTRACT

A head and neck support device for an occupant of a vehicle with a shoulder harness over the shoulders of the occupant and a helmet on a head of the occupant. The head and neck support device having a yoke, a tether, and at least one sleeve member, which has a cavity defined therethrough. The tether is configured to slide through the sleeve member cavity for a defined distance, which allows the occupant a greater range of side-to-side rotary head mobility.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/329,388,filed Dec. 5, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,850,625, which claims priorityto and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/992,609, filedon Dec. 5, 2007, both of which are incorporated in their entirety inthis document by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of head and neck supportdevices for use by occupants of cars, boats, aircraft, and the like. Inparticular, the present invention relates to an improved tetheringsystem for a head and neck support device which acts to transfer forceaway from the neck of the occupant through the device to the shoulderharness of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The driver and other occupants of high performance cars, planes, boatsand other vehicles (collectively, “vehicles”) typically wear equipmentdesigned to reduce physical harm during use of the vehicle butespecially to reduce physical harm during sudden deceleration, torque orimpact of the vehicle. Standard pieces of such equipment include ahelmet to reduce head injury and a shoulder harness attached to thevehicle for restraining torso movement relative to the seat and vehicle.

It was long ago realized that the neck undergoes various motions andloads during deceleration. In response, various devices have beendeveloped in an attempt to reduce the amount of motions and loadsexperienced by the neck during deceleration. Additionally, devices havebeen developed to transmit loads from the helmeted head to the torso inan attempt to reduce neck muscle fatigue and extreme head motions. Whilethese devices may reduce neck muscle fatigue and extreme head motions,they may also lead to other problems.

Generally, present head and neck devices that have proven to bevariously effective in reducing the forces on an occupant's neck byrestricting the extent of motion of the head with respect to the torsorely on a restrictive force being carried partially or fully to thetorso. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,638,510 and 6,009,566 to Hubbarddescribe a head and neck support device with two tethers that areattached between the respective sides of the device user's helmet and acollar of the head and neck support device. The head and neck supportdevice has a yoke integral with the collar that is configured to fitaround the back of the user's shoulders, adjacent the neck, and on thefront of the user's chest. The yoke defines a forward facing opening sothat the user can put on the head and neck support device by placingtheir head and neck through the opening. In a further aspect, the uppersurface of the yoke has a frictional material placed on it so that thevehicle seat belts can hold the yoke in place. This inhibits forwardmotion of the device and assists in overcoming the forward forces of thetethers pulling at the top of the device by the head/helmet and by thechest and shoulders dragging on the underside of the yoke.

The configuration of the two tethers of the device disclosed in the '510and '566 patents allows the user a limited range of side-to-side rotaryhead motion. However, the user may desire an even greater range ofrotary head motion in some instances. Thus, what is needed is a head andneck support device that effectively reduces the potential and actualforces acting on the user's neck, while allowing the user a greaterrange of rotary head motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to various embodiments, the present invention is a head andneck support device for use in high performance vehicles. In one aspect,the device comprises a yoke configured to be worn by an occupant of avehicle that has a front portion and a rear portion, a tether having afirst end and a second end, and at least one sleeve member. The yoke mayinclude an element resembling a collar mounted to, or integral with, theyoke. In one aspect, each sleeve member defines a cavity through whichthe tether can be slideably received. The at least one sleeve member canfurther define a first distance extending between a proximal end and adistal end of the at least one sleeve member. In this aspect, the tethercan define a second distance between the first and second ends of thetether that is greater than the first distance.

In one aspect, the front portion of the yoke is configured to extenddown from the shoulders of the occupant along a portion of the torso ofthe occupant. The rear portion of the yoke is configured to extendaround and behind a portion of the neck and shoulders of the occupant.In another aspect, a portion of the front portion and/or the rearportion of the yoke can be provided with load bearing surfaces. In thisaspect, the shoulder belts of the shoulder harness of the vehicle areconfigured to extend over a portion of the front and rear portions ofthe yoke on at least a portion of the load bearing surfaces when thedevice is mounted on a user. In this aspect, at least a portion of thedevice can be positioned between the shoulder belts and the occupant.

In a further aspect, the at least one sleeve member can be fixedlyattached to the yoke. In another aspect, the at least one sleeve membercomprises a plurality of sleeve members that are fixedly attached to theyoke. Optionally, the at least one sleeve member can be integrallyformed therein a portion of the yoke. In one embodiment, in which the atleast one sleeve member comprises a single sleeve member, the cavitydefined therein the sleeve member extends the first distance between thedistal and proximal ends of the single sleeve member. In an alternativeexemplary embodiment, in which the at least one sleeve member comprisesa first sleeve member and an opposed second sleeve member, therespective first and second sleeve members are spaced apart from eachother such that the first distance extends from a distal end of thefirst sleeve member to the proximal end of the second sleeve member. Asillustrated in the figures, the first distance is defined generally in acavity plane that bisects the cavity in the at least one sleeve member.In is contemplated that the tether would slide generally in the cavityplane within the first distance of the at least one sleeve member.

In use, the tether can be inserted into the at least one sleeve member.The first end of the tether can then be attached to a first side of theuser's helmet and the second end of the tether can then be attached tothe second, opposite side of the helmet. The sliding tether arrangementof the present invention allows the user a greater range of rotary headmotion around an axis that extends generally co-axial through thevertebra of the neck of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is rear perspective view of one embodiment of the head and necksupport device having plurality of sleeve members attached to a rearportion of the yoke.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the head and neck support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the head and neck support device of FIG. 1mounted on an occupant.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of on embodiment of a sleeve member of thehead and neck support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve member ofthe head and neck support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve member ofthe head and neck support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the head and necksupport device having a single sleeve member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the head and necksupport device having a flexible sleeve member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the head and necksupport device.

FIG. 10A is a top schematic view of the head and neck support device ofFIG. 1 on an occupant looking forward.

FIG. 10B is a top schematic view of the head and neck support device ofFIG. 1 on an occupant looking to the left.

FIG. 11 is partial front perspective view of one embodiment of the headand neck support device having a plurality of yoke and/or load bearingportions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, andtheir previous and following description. However, before the presentdevices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is tobe understood that this invention is not limited to the specificdevices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified,as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “sleeve member”can include two or more such sleeve members unless the context indicatesotherwise.

Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/orto the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed asapproximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understoodthat the particular value forms another aspect. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that thesubsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A head and neck support device is provided, according to various aspectsof the present invention. In one aspect, as shown in FIG. 1, a head andneck support device 10 comprises a yoke 12 and a tether 15. In oneexemplary embodiment, the head and neck support device can comprise ayoke having a front portion 32 and a rear portion 34, a tether having afirst end 16 and a second end 17, and at least one sleeve member 22. Inthis aspect, each sleeve member has a distal end 36 and a proximal end37 and defines a cavity 24 that extends therebetween the distal andproximal ends. The at least one sleeve member can further define a firstdistance extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the atleast one sleeve member. In a further aspect, the first distance canextend from the distal end of an outermost portion of at least onesleeve member to the proximal end of an opposed outermost portion of atleast one sleeve member.

Referring to FIG. 2, in one exemplary aspect, the yoke 12 can begenerally U-shaped and has a pair of spaced opposing legs 12A and 12Bthat extend outwardly and downwardly from an intermediate connectingportion 12C. In one aspect, at least a portion of a bottom surface 101of the yoke is configured to conform to the shoulders 102 and a frontportion of the torso 104 of the occupant 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3.In another aspect, an inner surface 13 of the connecting portion of theyoke can define a notch 12D between the pair of spaced opposing legs12A, 12B that is configured to accommodate a portion of the occupant'sneck 106. It is further contemplated that a portion of the connectingportion of the yoke can be configured to have a thickness such that abottom portion 19 of the connecting portion 12C extends down below aplane bisecting the top of the shoulders along the back of the occupantwhile a top portion 21 of the connecting portion is spaced above theplane bisecting the top of the occupant's shoulders.

In another exemplary aspect, at least a portion of an upper surface 9 ofthe yoke 12 can be provided with load bearing surfaces 14. In oneaspect, and as shown in FIG. 2, the load bearing surfaces can bechannels that are defined in the upper surface of the yoke. In oneaspect, the load bearing surfaces can follow the shape of the uppersurface of the yoke along the pair of legs and at the top portion of theconnecting portion 12C. In one aspect, the thickness of the connectingportion of the yoke 12 can enable the load bearing surfaces adjacent theconnecting portion of the yoke to be positioned behind and essentiallyat a vertical level with the shoulders 102 of the occupant, as can beseen in FIG. 3. In a further aspect, an inner edge 7 of the load bearingsurfaces 14 can be preferably provided with a raised lip 16 that isconfigured to prevent the shoulder belts 110A of the shoulder harness110 from slipping off the load bearing surfaces and inwardly toward theneck 106 of the occupant. In a further aspect, the width of the loadbearing surfaces is preferably greater than the width of the shoulderbelts of the shoulder harness. In another aspect, it is contemplatedthat at least a portion of the load bearing surfaces can be providedwith a friction material, coating, and the like 18 that is configured toresist the shoulder belts from slipping on the load bearing surfaces 14and provides for better transference of force from the load bearingsurfaces to the shoulder harness 110. In one exemplary aspect, at leastportions of the load bearing surfaces can be substantially flat incross-section. Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 11, it is contemplatedthat portions of the yoke 12 and/or the load bearing surfaces can beintegrally formed, or alternatively, that portions of the yoke and/orthe load bearing surfaces 14 can be a plurality of discontinuoussections that are interconnected by, for example and without limitation,a plurality of rigid connecting members 50.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the yoke can furthercomprise a collar 11. In one aspect, the collar 11 can extend upwardlyfrom the connecting portion 12C of the yoke 12 between the pair ofspaced opposing legs 12A and 12B such that the collar extends above theplane bisecting the top of the occupant's shoulders and behind the head112 of the occupant 100. In varying aspects, however, it is contemplatedthat the collar 11 can extend to a position at, above, or below thehorizontal level center of gravity of the head and helmet 108 combinedof the occupant. In this embodiment, the collar can be configured toallow for rotational movement of the helmet of the occupant. Forexample, it is contemplated that the collar can be curved to follow theshape of the helmet 108 of the occupant.

In one aspect, the at least one sleeve member can be fixedly attached toa portion of the yoke. It is contemplated, and as shown in the figures,that the at least one sleeve member can be attached to the collar, ifpresent. For clarity and conciseness, when used herein, the term “yoke”includes reference to a yoke with or without a collar. In one aspect,the at least one sleeve member can be formed from a rigid material, suchas, for example and not meant to be limiting, a carbon fiber compositeor a high impact resistant plastic material. Optionally, as shown inFIG. 8, the at least one sleeve member can be formed of a non-rigidmaterial.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sleeve member defines a cavity 24 thatforms a channel that extends the entire width of the sleeve member,i.e., between a proximal end 37 and distal end 36 of the sleeve member.In one aspect, the sleeve member cavity is configured such that when thesleeve member 22 is mounted to a yoke, a portion of the tether ispositioned in the cavity of the sleeve member in a plane thatsubstantially bisects the sleeve member.

In one exemplary aspect, the sleeve member 22 can be a single-sidedsleeve member, as shown in FIG. 5. In this aspect, the single-sidedsleeve member can be generally U-shaped with the channel being definedtherebetween the legs of the sleeve member. In another aspect, the legsof the sleeve member can be mounted thereto a portion of the exteriorsurface of the yoke 12. Thus, the portion of the exterior surface of theyoke and the channel therein the sleeve member defines the cavity 24 ofthe sleeve member 22. Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternative exemplaryaspect of the sleeve member is illustrated. In this aspect, the sleevemember is formed from the cooperative engagement of a pair of thesingle-side sleeve members. In this aspect, a first single-sidedgenerally U-shaped sleeve member is connected to a portion of theexterior surface of the yoke 12 such that the legs of the firstsingle-sided sleeve member extend outwardly away from the exteriorsurface of the yoke. A second single-sided sleeve member is mounted tothe first single-sided sleeve member such that the legs of therespective first and second single-sided sleeve members are in contact.One will appreciate that the opposed channels of the first and secondsingle-sided sleeve members defined the cavity 24 of the formed sleevemember 22.

Optionally, it is contemplated that the at least one sleeve member canbe formed from a single piece of material. In one aspect, having thecavity defined by the sleeve member 22, and not by a portion of theexterior surface of the yoke, offsets or spaces at least a portion ofthe tether 15 from the exterior surface of the yoke 12, which can reducefriction between the tether and the yoke and can improve tether slidingperformance.

In another embodiment and as mentioned above, a flexible sleeve member26 can be formed from a flexible material, such as a strap, asillustrated in FIG. 8. In this aspect, an end loop 28 of the sleevemember defines the cavity of the at least one sleeve member and isconfigured to position at least a portion of the tether 15 in a planethat bisects the end loop.

It is contemplated that the at least one sleeve member 22 can beattached to the yoke 12 with conventional fastening means, such as, forexample and without limitation, chemical adhesives, mechanical fastenerssuch as bolts, rivets, clamps, pressed stubs with nuts, and the like. Inthis aspect, complementary fastener holes can be defined in portions ofthe at least one sleeve member and the yoke.

The head and neck support device comprises a tether 15, as illustratedin FIG. 1. In one aspect, the tether has a first end 16, a second end17, and a fixed length that extends a second distance between therespective first and second ends. In another aspect, the fixed length ofthe tether can be operatively selected. In this aspect, the seconddistance between the first and second ends of the tether 15 is greaterthan the first distance. In various exemplary aspects, the tether can bea rope, strap, wire, chain, cable, and the like, but is preferablyconstructed of a relatively inextensible, fibrous strap material. Thelength of the tether is selectably predetermined to allow some mobilityof the head 112 while reducing fatigue and potentially injurious headmotions, when assembled as described below. The length of the tether 15preferably allows the occupant 100 to have the ability to rotate orotherwise move their head to increase their available sight area. Theoccupant is preferably able to move their head such as to have forwardand lateral fields of view. In one exemplary aspect, the tetherpreferably allows the occupant to have a turning motion of the headaround an axis that extends through the neck of the occupant 100 ofabout fifty degrees on either side of center. It is contemplated thatthe tether 15 can comprise a plurality of tethers. It is alsocontemplated that the tether 15 can be used in conjunction with othertethers for different purposes.

In operation, as will be described more fully below, a portion of thelength of the tether 15 would slide generally in the cavity plane withinthe first distance of the at least one sleeve member 22. In one aspect,in order to prevent the tether from sliding too far in either direction,it is contemplated that the tether 15 can comprise a blocking devicesuch as, for example and without limitation, a clip or the like, thatcan be positioned at a desired location along the tether so that only adesired portion of the tether can be slideably received therein thecavity 24 of the at least one sleeve member 22. In another aspect, inorder to prevent the tether from sliding too far in either direction, itis contemplated that the tether 15 can change dimensions at a desiredlocation along the tether so that portions of the tether are restrictedfrom being slidably received therein the cavity.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment having a plurality of sleeve members22 on the yoke 12 of the head and neck support device 10. In thisembodiment, the plurality of sleeve members comprises a first sleevemember 22′ and an opposed, spaced second sleeve member 22″ that arepositioned on a portion of the rear surface 34 of the yoke such that thefirst distance extends from the distal end 36′ of the first sleevemember 22′ to the proximal end 37″ of the second sleeve member 22″. In afurther aspect, the first distance can be defined generally in a cavityplane that bisects the cavity 24 in the at least one sleeve member. Inthe exemplary aspect having first and second sleeve members, the cavityplane substantially bisects the cavities of the respective first andsecond sleeve members.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the at least one sleeve member 22 can belocated on the rear portion 34 of the yoke 12, i.e., on the far side ofthe yoke from the head and helmet of the occupant 100. In thisembodiment, the tether 15 wraps around the rear portion of the yoke andcan make contact with portions of the yoke 12 if the outer edges of theat least one sleeve member 22 are not located at the respective outeredges of the yoke. It is also contemplated, however, that the at leastone sleeve member can be located on the front portion 32 of the yoke,i.e., on the side of the yoke 12 nearest to the head and helmet of theoccupant. In this embodiment, the tether position is restricted only bythe sleeve member cavity and the portions of the tether 15 that extendfrom the respective proximal and distal ends of the at least one sleevemember 22 are not restricted.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a single sleeve member 22 canbe attached to the yoke 12. In this embodiment, the cavity 24 definedtherein the sleeve member defines a first distance that extends from therespective distal and proximal ends of the sleeve member. One wouldappreciate that a portion of the tether 15, when positioned within thecavity 24 of the sleeve member 22, is free to slide in the cavity planewithin the first distance of the single sleeve member. In thisembodiment, the single sleeve member 22 can be located on the rearportion 34 of the yoke 12, i.e., on the far side of the yoke from thehead and helmet of the occupant. It is also contemplated, however, thatthe single sleeve member can be positioned on the front portion 32 ofthe yoke, i.e., on the side of the yoke nearest to the head and helmetof the occupant.

Similarly, in a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, a singleflexible sleeve member 26 can be attached to the yoke 12. The tether 15,when positioned within the end loop 28 of the flexible sleeve member, isfree to slide through the end loop of the flexible sleeve member. Inanother aspect, a plurality of flexible sleeve members may be placed onthe yoke of the head and neck support device 10. In an exemplaryexample, in which the plurality of flexible sleeve members comprises afirst flexible sleeve member and an opposed second flexible sleevemember, the respective first and second flexible sleeve members arespaced apart from each other such that the first distance extends from adistal end of the first flexible sleeve member to the proximal end ofthe second flexible. Thus, the exemplary first and second flexiblesleeve members 26 can be positioned on the yoke 12 in order to define afirst distance between the respective first and second flexible sleevemembers. The tether, when positioned within the end loops of therespective first and second flexible sleeve members, is free to slide inthe cavity plane that bisects the respective first and second flexiblesleeve member cavities.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a channel 44 forpositioning the tether 15 can be defined within a portion of the yoke12. At least one sleeve member can be mounted over the channel such thatthe sleeve member cavity is defined therebetween the sleeve member andthe channel 44 of the yoke. In the illustrated example, the channel isformed in a top portion of the collar 11 and the single sleeve member ismounted to the top portion of the collar to define a single sleevemember cavity. In one aspect, the channel is positioned substantiallyparallel to the top edge of the collar.

With reference to FIG. 1, a head and neck support device can beassembled to comprise any or all of the components as described above.In one aspect, the at least one sleeve member 22 can be attached to theyoke 12, or integrally formed therein the yoke. As desired, sleevemembers can be added to the yoke or removed from the yoke, and/or thelength of sleeve members altered, to vary the first distance of thedevice. The first distance may be varied in order to change the anglebetween a cavity plane that bisects the outermost sleeve member(s) andthe helmet tether connection points, which are described more fullybelow.

The tether 15 can be inserted through the sleeve members. The first endof the tether can be attached to a side of the helmet 108 of theoccupant 100, and the second end of the tether can be attached to theopposite side of the helmet, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. In oneembodiment, as known in the art, a helmet anchor can be mounted to thehelmet. The ends of the tether can be attached to the anchor by, forexample and without limitation, a shackle, a post and post catch systemor the like. In another embodiment, the ends of the tether can be formedwith loops, so that the ends of the tether can be attached to the helmetby threading helmet chin straps on either side of the helmet through theloops on the tether ends. In still another embodiment, in one aspect,the helmet can have slots defined therein either side configured forreceiving the ends 16, 17 of the tether. In another aspect, the ends ofthe tether 15 can be configured to be insertable into, yet difficult toextract from, the slots of the helmet 108 so that the tether resistsextraction from the helmet 108. In yet another embodiment, in oneaspect, the helmet can have slots defined therein either side. Inanother aspect, the ends 16, 17 of the tether 15 can be inserted throughthe slots of the helmet and then securedly attached to each other toform a continuous tether that resists extraction from the helmet.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the head and neck support device 10 of thepresent invention is mounted on the occupant 100 of a vehicle such thatthe pair of spaced opposing legs 12A and 12B of the yoke 12 extend downalong the front of the torso 104 of the occupant 100 and the connectingportion 12C of the yoke extends behind the neck 106 and shoulders 102 ofthe occupant. The device is mounted such that the neck of the occupantis positioned adjacent the notch 12D of the connecting portion of theyoke. In a preferred embodiment, the legs of the yoke 12 adjacent thefront of the torso of the occupant are positioned such that an anglerelative to the horizontal axis of the vehicle is between about 30° to50° when the device 10 is securely held in place on the occupant 100 andthe occupant is sitting in the vehicle.

The device is securely held in place by the shoulder belts 110A of theshoulder harness 110 when the occupant is securely belted into thevehicle. The device is only secured to the occupant 100 of the vehicleby the shoulder belts. This allows the occupant to exit the vehiclewithout having to remove the device 10. As illustrated in FIG. 3, theshoulder belts of the shoulder harness extend along the load bearingsurfaces 14 of the yoke such that the yoke is between the shoulder beltsand the occupant and the load bearing surfaces are above and behind theshoulders 102 of the occupant and between the shoulders of the occupantand the seat back (not shown). The load bearing surfaces of the yoke 12at the connecting portion 12C are positioned such that the shoulderbelts 110A of the shoulder harness adjacent the connecting portion aresubstantially parallel with the horizontal level of the top of theshoulders of the occupant 100. The shoulder belts of the shoulderharness 110 hold the yoke securely in contact with the front of thetorso 104 and the shoulders of the occupant during both normal vehicleoperation and during a crash. The yoke is connected by the tether 15 tothe helmet 108 on the head 112 of the occupant. The connection of thetether to the helmet tends to pull the entire device 10 forward and theconnecting portion 12C of the device upward. During a crash, the tethercarries tension forces from the helmet to the head and neck supportdevice.

With the device fully assembled and mounted on the user as describedabove, the sliding tether arrangement allows the occupant side-to-siderotary head mobility around an axis that extends generally co-axialthrough the vertebra of the neck of the user. As illustrated in FIG.10B, when the occupant 100 turns their head 112 to the left, as viewedfrom above, the distance from the end of the tether on the left side ofthe occupant's head to the leftmost sleeve member 22 decreases, so thatless tether length is required on the left side of the occupant's head.Simultaneously, the end of the tether 15 on the right side of their headexerts a force on the tether because that end of the tether is beingmoved to a distance farther away from the rightmost sleeve member. Thisforce causes the tether 15 to slide through the at least one sleevemember 22 towards the right, so that there is a greater length of tetherbetween the right side of the occupant's head and the rightmost sleevemember than between the left side of the occupant's head and theleftmost sleeve member. The sliding tether allows the occupant 100 tocontinue turning their head 112 to the left until a blocking deviceattached to the tether or a change in the tether dimensions restrictsthe tether 15 from sliding further into the sleeve member cavity. Ifthere is no tether blocking device or tether dimensional change, theoccupant may continue turning their head further to the left until thedistance between the tether connection point on the left side of thehelmet 108 and the outer edge of the leftmost sleeve member is aminimum.

Similarly, when the occupant turns their head 112 to the right, asviewed from above, the tether slides through the at least one sleevemember towards the left. The sliding tether 15 allows the occupant tocontinue turning their head to the right until a blocking deviceattached to the tether or a change in the tether dimensions restrictsthe tether from sliding further into the sleeve member cavity. If thereis no tether blocking devices or tether dimensional changes, theoccupant 100 may continue turning their head further to the right untilthe distance between the tether connection point on the helmet on theright side of the helmet and the outer edge of the rightmost sleevemember is a minimum.

In rearward vehicle acceleration or frontal crash (such as in applyingthe brakes or striking something with the front of the vehicle) withforward head motion relative to the torso, the yoke 12 will tend to moveforward relative to the vehicle and rotate with the top of the yokemoving forward relative to the bottom due to the head/helmet restrainingforces. The tendency for the yoke to move forward will be restrained bythe shoulder belts 110A in much the same way as normally occurs withoutthe device 10 present. The tendency for the top of the device to rotateforward such that the rear of the device moves up will be restrained bythe shoulder belts acting downward and rearward on the load bearingsurfaces 14 of the yoke adjacent the top of and to the rear of theshoulders 102. This constraint of rotation will also reduce the tendencyof the front, lower part of the yoke to load the rib cage. The body ofthe occupant 100 also tends to move forward relative to the vehicle.

The torso 104 of the occupant is restrained by rearward force from theshoulder harness 110 and the yoke 12. The shoulder harness includesshoulder belts 110A over the occupant's shoulders, around their lap andbetween their legs. The head and neck support device is held in place onthe torso of the occupant by the shoulder harness. The head 112 tends tocontinue moving forward but is restrained to move with the torso as aresult of the forces applied through the tether 15. Thus, as the vehicleis accelerated rearward, the head, torso and yoke move forward relativeto the vehicle, the torso and yoke are restrained by the shoulderharnesses, and the head and helmet 108 are restrained to move with thetorso 104 by the device. The forces to restrain the head and helmet willbe predominately carried through the device 10 to the shoulder belts.

The tether force restraining the head reduces the loading of the neck106. Thus, the tether force reduces the fatiguing demands on the neckand the potential for injury from the loads that would be presentwithout the device. The tether also reduces extreme head and neck motionrelative to the torso of occupant 100. The loads from the tether 15 aretransmitted through the yoke 12 to the torso and shoulder belts of theshoulder harness 110. The friction material 18 attached to the loadbearing surfaces 14 increases the frictional forces acting rearward onthe load bearing surfaces from the shoulder belts 110A. In this way, theload bearing surfaces effectively restrain the head and neck supportdevice to carry the tether force which restrains the head 112 of theoccupant to move with the torso.

In a frontal crash, the acceleration forces and the restraint forces onthe occupant 100 are primarily horizontal. The tether restrains themotions of the occupant's head such that the occupant's head moves withthe occupant's torso 104 which reduces the undesirable forces in theoccupant's neck that may cause injuries to the head 112 and neck 106.The tether 15 also reduces head motions and accelerations that are dueto head rotations in side view. The shoulder belts apply downward andrearward loads on the load bearing surfaces, adjacent to and behind theshoulders 102 of the occupant to counteract the tether forces actingbetween the yoke 12 and the helmet 108 of the occupant. The loads fromthe shoulder belts 110A on the load bearing surfaces act through thedevice 10 and the tether to resist the forward motions of the head ofthe occupant 100 relative to the torso of the occupant. Because the headand neck support device is between the occupant's torso 104 and theshoulder harness 110, the forces that restrain the helmeted head aretransmitted through the head and neck support device to the occupant'storso and the shoulder harness.

In a rear crash with forward acceleration, the occupant tends to moverearward and upward because of the angle of the seat back. The structurethat supports the head 112 moves rearward with the front of the torso104. The friction with the shoulder belts of the shoulder harness slowsthe occupant as the torso of the occupant moves upward relative to theshoulder harness. The device 10 is between the occupant's shoulders andthe shoulder belts to increase the forces from the shoulder belts 110Aand to create more downward force as the occupant slides up the seatback. Thus, the head and neck support device improves the restraint ofthe occupant's upper torso in a rear crash.

In sideways acceleration (such as in striking an object with the side ofthe vehicle), assume, for the sake of illustration, that the vehicle isaccelerated to the left as would occur in turning toward the left orstriking an object with right side of the vehicle and that forces andmotions are expressed relative to the vehicle. The torso is restrainedby the seat and harness 110. The helmet 108 and head are restrained toaccelerate to the left with the torso by tension in the tether 15 on theleft side. The tether is configured so that with sideward motion thehelmeted head 112 also moves rearward into the yoke 12. In sidewaysacceleration, the loads on the yoke from the helmeted head tend torotate the top of the yoke away from the direction of the acceleration(top toward the right in the current example). The yoke tends to movedownward onto the right shoulder 102 and upward off of the leftshoulder. This tendency to rotate is resisted by the forces between theyoke 12 and the right shoulder and between the yoke and the shoulderharness 110 on the left side. The head, helmet, and device 10 also tendto move to the right. This motion is resisted by the shoulder harness onthe right and, to some extent, by the shoulder belt 110A on the loadbearing surfaces 14 on the left side of the yoke and the contact betweenthe yoke and the upper shoulders 102 and neck 106.

Thus, the accelerations of the head 112, helmet 108, neck, and torso,with components in forward, rearward or sideward directions, arerestrained as combinations of the mechanical responses described above.

The load bearing surfaces extend rearward from the top of the occupant'sshoulders so that, when racing, these load bearing surfaces 14 lie belowthe shoulder belts of the shoulder harness. Since the shoulder belts canbe secured to the vehicle below the edge of the load bearing surfaces atthe connecting portion 12C of the device 10, the load bearing surfacesof the head and neck support device will be loaded by the shoulder beltswhile the occupant 100 is racing and this loading of the head and necksupport device is transmitted to the occupant's shoulders 102 to helphold the occupant down in the seat.

The load bearing surfaces provide a load path for the forces from thetether 15 through the head and neck support device to the shoulder belts110A. The head and neck support device of the present invention is smalland easy to handle which enables occupants to wear the device with verylittle interference between the head and neck support device and thehelmet 108 during normal racing.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in theforegoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the artthat many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will cometo mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of theteaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings.It is therefore understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiments disclosed herein, and that many modifications andother embodiments of the invention are intended to be included withinthe scope of the invention. Moreover, although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense,and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A head and neck support device for an occupant ofa vehicle with a shoulder harness over the shoulders of the occupant anda helmet on a head of the occupant, comprising: a yoke having a leg; theleg having a load bearing surface; and the load bearing surface having aplurality of discontinuous sections that are interconnected by aconnecting member.
 2. The head and neck support device of claim 1,wherein the width of the load bearing surfaces is configured for beinggreater than the width of a shoulder belt of the shoulder harness. 3.The head and neck support device of claim 1, wherein the discontinuoussections are adapted for being positioned between a shoulder belt of theshoulder harness and the occupant.